Royals chat with the people

The Duke of York and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, went to Westminster Tower Gardens yesterday to meet members of the public at the head of the queue for the Queen Mother's lying in State.

The Duke of York and his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, went to Westminster Tower Gardens yesterday to meet members of the public at the head of the queue for the Queen Mother's lying in State.

The duke looked relaxed as he spoke to the crowds in Victoria Gardens, next to Westminster Hall.

He chatted with volunteers from the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, who have set up a marquee outside Parliament to provide refreshments for people in the queue.

Followed by his daughters, he spent several minutes talking and joking with men and women, some of whom had waited since dawn in a queue up to three miles long.

The queue led from the gardens across the river to Westminster Bridge and beyond.

He then talked to members of Venture Scout troops from all over the South-East and paramedics from St John Ambulance.